Van Der Graaf Generator
World Record ESOTERIC
Second era swansong. Coming together when progressive rock was in its infancy but already plumbing formulas, Van der Graaf sounded like no other band. Driven by drummer Guy Evans’ virtuoso heartbeat, organist Hugh Banton mixed the sepulchral and psychotic while David Jackson blasted multiple saxes plugged into gizmos on his belt as Peter Hammill wrung eloquently complex lyrics from his soul with tortured intensity. After forming in 1968, VdGG had released four albums before imploding in ‘73 as Hammill’s prolific solo career took over. With Banton, Jackson and Evans playing on his albums, the reunion was already under way when VdGG reappeared two years later with Godbluff, Still Life and World Record before splintering again. With Hammill gripped by breakup trauma that branded Over his most shattering solo work, the other three respond with classic VdGG power, drama and convoluted tonal anarchy on When She Comes, Masks and A Place To Survive, navigating near-perverted time signatures and sudden mood swings with supernatural telepathy. After Meurglys III, The Songwriters Guild (Hammill’s 20-minute love song to his guitar), this line-up’s last album before next re-forming in 2005 ends in perfect contrast with anthemic ballad Wondering. The second disc boasts Stephen W. Taylor’s Stereo Mix.